Super 7 blew collectors minds last year when they revealed they would manufacture the never-produced Kenner line based on the 1979 Alien movie. Then, it got even better when it was announced that Super 7 teamed up with pop-culture powerhouse Funko to grow the ReAction line beyond anyones wildest dreams.

ReAction is a time machine in toy form. Carrying on the aesthetic of the late-70s era Kenner action figures, ReAction will be visiting a variety of licenses sure to thrill fans of retro toys and, I’m sure, create new fans as well. At this point we’ve heard of the following licenses: Back to the Future, Aliens, Predator, Firefly, Universal Monsters, Terminator 1 & 2, Goonies, Escape from New York, The Rocketeer, Nightmare Before Christmas, Pulp Fiction, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (tv), Star Trek Classic and “many, many more!”.

With Toy Fair just weeks away, AFi went straight to the source: Funko CEO Brian Mariotti to find out just a little more about what we can expect from the ReAction line while saving the big surprises Toy Fair itself.

1.How did Funko come to be involved in the release and development of the ReAction line?

We loved the vision of Brian Flynn at Super 7 and his idea of retro action figures. So Brian and I thought it would be great to team up and utilize Funko’s large stable of licenses to grow ReAction more rapidly.

2. Star Trek Classic was listed as one of the ReAction licenses. What does “Classic” entail? Just the Original Series or everything prior to the JJ Abram’s reboot?

Yes Classic TV i.e. Nimoy and Shatner and the original series for now.

3. Stylistically will the ReAction line follow the model established by the Alien figures (neutral pose, straight arms, legs) creating consistency across all the ReAction properties?

Yes absolutely. We want everything to feel like a Kenner Star Wars figure from 1978.

4. For ReAction, are the figures always 5 points of articulation, or might there be the occasional extra points such as knees for sitting?

Always limited articulation.

5. You’ve mentioned on the Funko Funatics forums that you plan to greatly expand the Remco Universal Monsters line. Are the Universal Monsters figures going to be done in the Remco style, or the Kenner style? Was your comment directed more at character offerings rather than sculpting style?

More the Kenner style with additional figures not produced by Remco. As well as glow and black and white variations!

6. Will any of the major brick and mortar stores be carrying ReAction and/or Legacy?

We believe Toys R Us and Target are very interested in the vision of ReAction.

7. If ReAction is the hit we all hope it will be, any plans for vehicles or playlets? A Kenner-styled DeLorean for Back to the Future, or an Enterprise bridge would be amazing.

Yes Super 7 and Funko have a nice surprise up our sleeves for Comic Con on a play-set!

8. You recently revealed Buffy the Vampire Slayers Series 1 (Buffy, Willow, A Gentlemen from Hush, Spike, Angel and Oz) on the FunkoFunatics forum. Will each ReAction release consist of 6 figures, or will it vary from property to property?

Each property varies.

9. Many of the ReAction licenses are older properties where the classic Kenner style “makes sense”. How did newer properties such as Firefly, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and such get folded into this style?

We want to be consistent with the look and feel.

10. Fans are already dying for the reveals to come next month at Toy Fair. Now that Alien has been released, how soon until the next ReAction line is released?

Toy Fair is going to explode minds. We will be unveiling 8-10 new lines of ReAction, many in their blister cards and some as prototypes in paint stage. It will be epic!

A big “thank you” to Brian for taking time out from his incredibly busy schedule to answer a few questions exclusively for AFi readers! We can’t wait to see what Funko and Super 7 have in store for ReAction at Toy Fair.

Jeff Cope has been collecting toys and action figures since he was a wee lad growing up in the 70s, and is still waiting to grow out of it. He's been involved in the online collecting community since he first started writing for Raving Toy Maniac in the mid-90s, and is proud to call AFi his online home.

And sorry to post a third comment….But another two dream licenses to do would be Marvel AND DC in the retro style. Mego did some and they all looked like they were grabbing their peters. It disturbed me even as a little kid. Marvel universe is great and multi articulated etc. But I would love some retro styled ones. Especially if Funko focused on the seventies. Can anyone imagine Shang Chi as a Retro action figure? Wowie!

I just wish that they were doing modern styled (and articulated) figures alongside of the retro styled lines. Some of these licenses have never had 3.75″ toylines and once someone finally gets the license, they cater only to a niche (within a niche). I understand the nostalgic pull of the Kenner styling, but I think they could really make everyone happy by doing figures in both styles. (I would kill for a realistic style Firefly line, but have no interest in a retro line.)

THat is my number one wish for this as well– however I personally believe they are doing them kenner style to avoid likeness licensing issues and making these projects feasible– if it doesn’t even passably look like the person you should be able to skip over that part….The only reason we are able to say any of these people are actual people is because we knew who played them in their respective roles.. .

Besides,they are doing a 6″ Legacy line as well,which will be more in style with the SW Black line of 6 inchers. Firefly is on that list apparently,and they’re gonna announce 2 MAJOR licenses at TF next month. And I agree with one of the comments when reading this somewhere else,a 6″ Rocketeer?! YES PLEASE! And Galaxy Quest,lol.

The biggest wish for be would be the ‘missing’ Alien figures, Brett, Parker and Lambert. Maybe a Kane without spacesuit, with a removable facehugger, a Ripley in spacesuit… as a vehicle the Narcissus would we kick ass.

I absolutely dont care for properties post 90s since the kenner style wouldn’t fit, there are however some lines I’d love to see!
Using the Kenner style I can’t help but think that a BTTF line complete with Delorean would be a dream and/or (if there are enough fans to support it.) the Kenner ‘Last Starfighter’ line that had these gorgeous prototypes. (Google it if you haven’t seen em’)

If they want to do retro, I wouldn’t do it everything in late 70’s Kenner style, that’s silly – remember the style of the late 80’s Kenner (i.e. Robocop? 90’s Kenner (Predator, Bill & Ted)? There would no problems with likeness rights or does any of these figs look like definite people? It’d just mean more fitting, better looking toys.

Well, I was around in 1977 (or 78 when the figures actually came out) and I would still rather have more than 5POA. There has never been a decent Star Trek 3.75″ line, and finally getting one only to have it be 5 POA and primitive sculpts really sucks.